FOOD CHARITIES TO BENEFIT FROM $1 MILLION FUND

Thousands of food charity recipients are set to benefit from a charitable initiative which will see $1million allocated to community organisations that help a range of health, cultural, environment, education and other causes. An online platform has been launched which allows Kiwis to vote for the charities they feel are most deserving of funding, which will benefit their local community. Anyone can vote for the cause of their choice each day, with $5 provided by the fund for every vote cast.

More than 30 projects were chosen to receive funding from 148 charitable applicants. The applications were received from a diverse range of causes which include a counselling programme for victims of child abuse, air rescue services and an awareness campaign to reduce the number of dog bite injuries among children.

Simon Wickham CEO of ‘The Trusts’ West Auckland said the million dollars charitable initiative is an example of how the model is able to support charities while at the same time provide a model for the sale of alcohol with better community outcomes.

“Most of the profits from liquor sales around New Zealand are retained by store owners or overseas owners,” said Wickham.

“Under our model, the proceeds are retained in this community-owned social enterprise and returned to the community both now and in future.”

“By the end of this month the Million Dollar Mission, in its second year after launching in 2017, will have given back a total of $2million to the community it was raised in. The Million Dollar Mission forms one of many ways we’ve been investing in our community for decades.”

The causes were chosen by a panel which included Sir Bob Harvey and former Silver Fern Linda Vagana and local board members who selected the 32 finalists.

Anyone can register one vote each day at milliondollarmission.co.nz until the end of March 2018 or until all funds have been distributed.